Israeli National Extradited to U.S. Over $2.89 Million Nomad Bridge Crypto Heist

What happened

Alexander Gurevich, a 49-year-old from Israel, appeared for the first time in a federal court in California after extradition, the Justice Department said ^[1]. He faces a 2023 indictment over the Nomad Bridge, a crypto bridge run by a self-executing program known as a smart contract ^[1]. He was taken into custody in Israel in May 2025 and brought to the United States only recently ^[1].

Prosecutors allege that on or about Aug. 1, 2022, Gurevich ran four exploit transactions that moved 103 WBTC (Wrapped Bitcoin) and 300 WETH (Wrapped Ether) out of Nomad's address into one he controlled ^[1]. The department puts the value at approximately $2,894,390 when the transfers happened ^[1]. The indictment alleges he then swapped the funds into other tokens, including Bitcoin, and spread them across multiple addresses to hide where the money came from and who owned it ^[1].

How it affects Americans

The case shows U.S. prosecutors reaching across borders to pursue crypto theft, with help from the department's Office of International Affairs and Israeli authorities ^[1]. Gurevich is charged with causing damage to a protected computer, interstate transportation of stolen money, and money laundering ^[1]. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each of the first two counts, and 20 years and a $250,000 fine for money laundering ^[1].

The Veil Press view

Prosecutors say the theft ran through unauthorized and non-authenticated transactions against the bridge's code, a risk anyone holding tokens on such bridges carries ^[1]. That the case took years and an extradition to reach a courtroom is a reminder that recovery is slow, even when investigators identify a suspect ^[1]. As the department notes, an indictment is merely an allegation, and Gurevich is presumed innocent unless proven guilty ^[1].

What we know

Confirmed

• Gurevich, 49, has appeared in a federal court in California ^[1].
• His arrest came in May 2025, followed by extradition ^[1].
• He faces three counts, including money laundering ^[1].
• The FBI leads the investigation ^[1].

Still being reported

• Prosecutors value the alleged haul near $2,894,390 at the time of the transfers ^[1].
• Whether any of the funds have been recovered is not stated in the release ^[1].